People's Democracy

CPI(M) Calls for Peaceful Dialogue in Darjeeling

From Our Special Correspondent in Kolkata

THE CPI(M) has demanded a peaceful solution to ongoing problems in Darjeeling hill areas, avoiding confrontation and all kinds of provocation. It is of the opinion that the justified aspirations of the hill people should be solved through maximum possible autonomy within the state of West Bengal and devolution of powers. Economic and social development of the hill areas, exercise of democracy and maintaining peaceful atmosphere should be guaranteed with special care and attention.

As is well known, the renewed agitation for a separate state of Gorkhaland was initiated in 2007 under the leadership of Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) and violent steps were taken frequently. This movement was abetted by anti-Left forces at that time. Despite attacks and aggressions against the CPI(M) and the Left in the hills, the then Left Front government initiated a peace process and interacted with the GJM time and again. Several rounds of discussion took place between them and the government. A tripartite process was also initiated involving the centre and some formulas for wider decentralisation and devolution of powers were being worked out. However, the process could not be completed before the 2011 assembly elections.

After the change of guard in West Bengal, a tripartite agreement was hastily signed keeping many ambiguous spaces, even retaining an option of separate Gorkhaland later. GJM signed the treaty to form Gorkha Territorial Administration without a commitment to give up the movement for a separate state. The seed of todays trouble was sown. The CPI(M), while identifying the imprecise and uncertain areas of the treaty, called for smooth running of GTA.

In the GTA elections, GJM virtually barred other political parties from competing. CPI(M) candidates were threatened and houses of CPI(M) leaders and activists were attacked. To avoid confrontation, the CPI(M) withdrew candidates. Trinamool Congress, on the other hand, withdrew their candidates in support of Morcha. Thereafter chief minister visited the hills several times and bonhomie between her and Morcha was loudly advertised. One of the slogans of the state government was Pahar Hasche, meaning the hills are laughing joyously.

GTA, however, was dysfunctional from the very beginning. There were tensions between them and the state administration on many issues, which remain unresolved. The stream of promises by the chief minister and non-implementation of them affected the sentiments of the people. In the backdrop of this, the announcement of creating separate Telangana fuelled the agitation in Darjeeling once again. The response of the chief minister was arrogant, high handed and she unleashed security forces to teach GJM a lesson. Many leaders of GJM, including six elected member of GTA, were arrested in old cases. Nearly 200 GJM activists were arrested.

The CPI(M) has taken a principled position on the Darjeeling issue. Biman Basu, Left Front chairman and secretary of CPI(M) state committee, said that an all party meeting should be called to discuss the situation in Darjeeling hills. Instead of calling for this meeting, the manner in which the government is talking will only further complicate the problem. He also said that there were problems within the GTA agreement itself which we pointed out earlier. Now it is clear that our observations on the agreement were correct. There is no other way to deal with the problem but to go in for discussions.

Surjya Kanta Mishra, leader of opposition, said the ongoing problem in the hills of Darjeeling is becoming more complex because of the provocation by the Chief Minister. The chief minister herself is indulging in provocation. We in the Left do not agree with the tactics of paralysing life in the Darjeeling hills or the Gorkha Janamukti Morchas demand for a separate state. But the state government has the responsibility to solve the problem through discussions. The state government instead of fulfilling this responsibility is indulging in counter provocations.

Mishra said that it is true that the state government should take action against prolonged strike calls in the hills. The essential services should be maintained as per the direction of the High Court. But the government which has never cared for the judgments of the courts has suddenly become hyperactive, taking the judgment as a pretext and fueling even more trouble in the hills. He also said that on the one hand the government is calling meeting of the GTA, and on the other hand it is arresting the leadership of GTA using old cases. When the bonhomie between the TMC and GJM was continuing why were these cases not brought to the fore? The actions of the government are not showing any sincerity towards solving the issue.